Senators Douse Flames 1-0

Published 1:52 pm, Monday, April 25, 2016

Wade Redden scored the game's only goal in the first period and Patrick Lalime made 21 saves for his third shutout of the season as the financially troubled Ottawa Senators defeated the Calgary Flames 1-0 Thursday night.

On the same day they filed for bankruptcy protection, the Senators showed why they are the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference.

Ottawa rebounded from a 6-4 loss in Vancouver the previous night to avoid losing consecutive games for what would have been the first time since Nov. 8-9. It was Lalime's 23rd career shutout.

The lone goal came on a power play with 1:57 left in the first period.

Todd White beat Craig Conroy on a faceoff deep in the Flames' end and pulled the puck back to Redden at the blue line. The veteran defenseman took one stride and ripped a low slap shot past Roman Turek on the glove side.

The win enabled Ottawa (26-10-5-1) to maintain its five-point lead over Philadelphia atop the Eastern Conference. The Flyers beat the New York Islanders 4-0 earlier Thursday.

Calgary (14-19-6-3) lost for the first time in six games (4-1-1) since the hiring of Darryl Sutter as head coach.

With backup goalie Martin Prusek sidelined with a groin injury, Lalime started again for the Senators. He turned in a better performance than against the Canucks on Wednesday in which he gave up six goals on 25 shots before being pulled with 10 minutes remaining.

Lalime's best stop came in the first period with the game scoreless when a faceoff delay-of-game penalty to Marian Hossa resulted in a two-man advantage for Calgary for 1 minute, 34 seconds.

Lalime sprawled across the crease to stab Oleg Saprykin's shot with his glove.

Calgary pulled Turek for an extra skater in the final minute but was unable to generate any solid scoring chances.

Notes@: Rookie Calgary D Jordan Leopold returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past four games. … The Senators improved to 17-1-2 when leading after the first period. … During their five-game unbeaten streak, the Flames trailed only once for 14 minutes, 35 seconds.